How to Apply for an Open Work Permit in Canada: Forms, Fees, and SIN

To apply for an open work permit in Canada, you confirm you fit one of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s eligible categories, assemble your documents, submit the application online through an IRCC secure account, and pay a minimum of CAD $255 in government fees. Most applicants also owe an $85 biometrics fee, bringing the usual total to CAD $340. Eligibility rules changed in January 2025, so the first task is checking that you still qualify under the current criteria.

Confirm You Qualify

Open work permits are not available to the general public. IRCC restricts them to specific categories, and if you don’t fit one, no application will succeed. The main streams are:

  • Spouses and common-law partners of foreign workers, where eligibility depends on the worker’s occupation classified under the Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) system and whether the worker is on a pathway to permanent residence.1Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Open Work Permits for Family Members of Foreign Workers
  • Spouses and common-law partners of international students, but only if the student holds a valid study permit and is enrolled in a master’s program of at least 16 months, a doctoral program, or one of a limited set of professional degree programs (medicine, dentistry, law, veterinary medicine, optometry, pharmacy, nursing, education, and engineering). This category narrowed on January 21, 2025.2Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Help Your Spouse or Common-Law Partner Work in Canada
  • Graduates of eligible designated learning institutions applying for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). The program must have been at least eight months long, or 900 hours for Quebec credentials. Since November 1, 2024, most PGWP applicants must submit proof of English or French language proficiency, with an exception for graduates of PGWP-eligible flight schools.3Government of Canada. Post-Graduation Work Permit – Who Can Apply4Government of Canada. How to Find Your Language Level Based on Your Test Results
  • Permanent residence applicants under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, or Federal Skilled Trades Program, whose current work permit is about to expire, applying for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP).5Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Bridging Open Work Permit for Permanent Residence Applicants
  • Vulnerable workers who are being abused or at risk of abuse by an employer, provided they are in Canada and hold a valid employer-specific work permit (or applied to extend it before it expired). Abuse includes physical, sexual, financial, or psychological harm. This category cannot be applied for at a port of entry.6Government of Canada. Open Work Permit for Vulnerable Workers – Who Can Apply
  • Young people from countries with a youth mobility agreement with Canada, through the Working Holiday stream of International Experience Canada (IEC).7Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. International Experience Canada – Who Can Apply

Check the exact criteria for your stream on the IRCC website before you spend time on the paperwork.

Gather Your Documents

The checklist varies by stream, but most applicants need the same core items.

  • Valid passport. Your work permit generally cannot be issued beyond your passport’s expiry date, so renew it first if it expires soon.
  • Proof of relationship for spousal applicants: a marriage certificate or Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union, plus supporting evidence of cohabitation.
  • Educational documents for PGWP applicants, including an official letter from the school confirming program length and completion.3Government of Canada. Post-Graduation Work Permit – Who Can Apply
  • Police certificates from every country where you have lived for six consecutive months or more since turning 18. You do not need one for time in Canada or for any period before age 18.8Government of Canada. Police Certificate – When to Get a Police Certificate
  • Medical exam results from an IRCC-approved panel physician, required if you plan to work in a job where public health must be protected (such as health care or child care), or if you’ve spent six or more consecutive months in certain designated countries in the year before coming to Canada. Your own doctor cannot perform this exam.9Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Medical Exams for Visitors, Students and Workers
  • Photographs taken against a plain white or light-coloured background within the last six months, at least 35 mm × 45 mm, with the face measuring 31 to 36 mm from chin to crown.10Government of Canada. Temporary Resident Visa Application Photograph Specifications
  • Stream-specific proof: BOWP applicants need their acknowledgement of receipt letter from the permanent residence application; spousal applicants need proof the principal applicant holds a valid work or study permit in the qualifying category.5Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Bridging Open Work Permit for Permanent Residence Applicants

Every supporting document must be in English or French. Documents in another language need a full translation and a translator’s affidavit swearing to its accuracy. Certified Canadian translators who belong to a provincial or territorial translators’ association don’t need to supply the affidavit. Translations by the applicant or a family member are not accepted.11Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. What Language Should My Supporting Documents Be In

Complete the Application Forms

The main application form differs depending on whether you’re applying from inside or outside Canada. Both versions cover biographical details, contact information, and education and employment history. Fill them out electronically when you can, because the digital forms validate your entries and generate a barcode page needed for online submission.

You’ll also complete the Family Information Form (IMM 5707), which asks for details about your spouse, parents, and all children, including those not coming to Canada with you.12Government of Canada. Family Information Form – Visitors, Students and Workers IMM 5707 Every child must be listed regardless of age, citizenship, or custody arrangement.

Make sure every entry matches your supporting documents exactly. A name spelled differently from your passport, or dates that conflict across forms, can delay or derail your application. Review everything before validating, since correcting errors afterward means starting the form over.

Submit Online and Pay the Fees

Applications go through an IRCC secure account. If you don’t have one, register using a GCKey username and password or a Canadian bank Sign-In Partner. Two-factor authentication is required.13Government of Canada. Sign In to Your IRCC Secure Account Once you’re in, an online questionnaire routes you to the right application for your stream. You then upload your completed forms and supporting documents to the checklist.

Government fees for an open work permit total CAD $255: a $155 work permit processing fee plus a $100 open work permit holder fee.14Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Citizenship and Immigration Application Fees Most applicants also owe an $85 biometrics fee unless they’ve already given biometrics that are still valid; biometrics remain valid for 10 years. That brings the usual total to CAD $340. You pay by credit card during online submission.

You don’t need a separate application for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or visitor visa. If your nationality requires one, IRCC issues it automatically alongside your work permit at no extra charge.15Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Should I Apply for an eTA or a Visa When I Apply for a Work Permit

What Happens After You Apply

IRCC doesn’t send an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) right away. There’s often a gap between when your application is received and when an officer opens it and confirms it’s complete. Once that check happens, you get an AOR letter or email with your application number.16Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. How Can I Check If My Application Has Been Received From then on, you can track status through your IRCC account.17Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. When Can I Check My Application Status

If biometrics are required, you’ll receive a biometric instruction letter (BIL) telling you to visit an official collection site in person. You have 30 days from the date of the letter to provide your fingerprints and photograph, so book your appointment quickly.18Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Biometrics – Where to Give Your Fingerprints and Photo

Processing times vary by stream and current volume. IRCC publishes estimates on its website and updates them often.19Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. How Long Will It Take to Process My Work Permit Application An officer may ask for additional documents while your file is open; slow responses stretch out the wait.

Maintained Status While You Wait

If you’re already in Canada and applied to extend or change your work permit before it expired, you have what IRCC calls maintained status. You can keep working under the same conditions as your original permit until a decision is made on the new application.20Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. I Applied for a New Work Permit – Can I Stay in Canada If My Work Permit Expires This safety net only works if the new application was submitted before the old permit expired. If you applied for a study permit or visitor record instead of a work permit, you must stop working on the day your original work permit expires.

Receiving the Permit

If you applied from outside Canada, IRCC sends a letter of introduction, not the permit itself. Present the letter to a border officer on arrival, and the officer will issue the actual work permit at the port of entry.21Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. What Is a Port of Entry Letter If you applied from inside Canada, the decision comes through your online account and the permit is sent to you directly.

If Your Application Is Refused

The refusal letter explains why the application was denied, and that explanation shapes your next move. You have three main options:

  • Reapply with a stronger case. If the refusal was based on insufficient documentation or weak ties to your home country, you can submit a new application that directly addresses those weaknesses. A clear letter of explanation acknowledging what was missing helps. This is the most common and often the most practical path.
  • Request reconsideration. You can ask the officer to review the decision if you believe an error was made. There are no formal rules, fees, or strict deadlines, but the success rate is low and officers have broad discretion over whether to reopen a file.
  • Apply for judicial review at the Federal Court. The deadline is 15 days from the date of the decision if you’re in Canada, or 60 days if you’re outside Canada. The court reviews whether the officer made a legal error, not whether your application deserves a fresh look on the merits. Treat this as a last resort.

Whichever route you choose, don’t ignore the reasons given. Resubmitting an identical application will almost certainly produce the same result.

Get Your SIN Before You Start Working

Once you have your open work permit, you need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) before an employer can pay you. If you’ve never had a Canadian SIN, apply for one. If you had one under an earlier permit, update your SIN record with the new document’s expiry date. SINs issued to temporary residents start with the number 9 and expire when the underlying work permit does.22Government of Canada. Apply, Update or Obtain a SIN Confirmation You can apply or update online, by mail, or in person at a Service Canada office. Most employers cannot put you on payroll without a valid SIN, so handle this right after your permit is issued.